Friars Haugh – Duke of Buccleuch Point to Point

A day of doubles at the Point to Point.

Two jockeys had double wins on Saturday at the Duke of Buccleuch Point to Point. First, Jamie Hamilton accrued his double win on Sandy Thomson’s Just Awake in the CKD Galbraith Duke of Buccleuch Hunt Members Race, followed by another triumph on trainer Wendy Hamilton’s Cave Hunter in the Turcan Connell NPPA Club Members Race. A great day for jockey Jamie Hamilton.

Nick Orpwood on The Brig At Ayr in the A Hume Bladen Open Maiden, Duke of Buccleuch Point to Point, Friars Haugh. Photo credit: courtesy Dennis Penny.

We took a keen interest in the day’s other double winner, Nick Orpwood. Nick is a local boy, 25yrs old from Cornhill who has risen up through the ranks of Pony Club and local Hunts to secure a position as Assistant Trainer with Lucinda Russell. He’s been riding Point to Point since he was 16, winning his first race in his second season.

Nick’s double win at Friars Haugh on Saturday came thanks to a strong run on Splendid Blue, trained by Joanna Boswell, in the Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate Race – Splendid Blue’s second win at Friars Haugh in just seven weeks. Followed by a further successful ride on The Brig At Ayr, trained by John Leadbetter, in our sponsored race the A Hume Bladen Open Maiden Cup.

It was a career first double for Nick and we’re delighted that a talented local like Nick took such glorious honours in a race that bears our name. Karen Hume was there to present Nick with the winning cup.

Nick Orpwood on The Brig at Ayr, with trainer John Leadbetter, celebrating a career first double win. Photo credit: image courtesy Dennis Penny.

It’s also fitting that Nick was riding for trainer John Leadbetter with whom he has a long-standing association. Nick said:

“John’s been fantastic, he’s been behind me all the way and given me lots of support over the years.”

Nick is ambitious, he’s reached the position of Assistant Trainer at a young age and hopes one day to be a Trainer himself.

“It’s always been horses for me. My mother rode, and my grandfather. There was never any doubt about what I was going to do.”

We asked Nick how he celebrated his first double and he said without hesitation, as though there could be no doubt about how anyone would ever celebrate their first double:

“I went to the pub with my friends. It was great to win my first double so close to home!”

Archie Hume and friends putting in an appearance at the Duke of Bucceleuch Point to Point before dashing off to compete in the Mighty Deerstalker. Clockwise from left: Ali Murray, Scott Murray, Archie Hume, Anna Lamotte.

Thanks to all at the Duke of Buccleuch Hunt, to the good people at Bladen for the joint sponsorship of the A Hume Bladen Point to Point, and to all who played a part in a memorable day.

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